Saturday, March 28, 2009

Testimony

Recently I watched part of what looks like a day long event on Religion at Harvard University. The link is here (http://hillel.harvard.edu/media/videos/550). I, of course, watched the part where the Mormon was interviewed. First I will say that she did a good job of defending her faith. I appreciate greatly those who are willing to sit in front of teachers, leaders, peers, and critics and take any verbal abuse on religion or any other subject. The interview was pretty well conducted and gave most participants a fair share of time. The Mormon did seem to get a little bit more time, the Mormons are very difficult to understand. Which leads my to my very strong opinion.
The moderator at one point mentions that she had been reading "anti-mormon" literature. Now, I should verify this fact, but I assume she is an administrator of some kind from Harvard University. That's right. One of the top schools, in my opinion, in the entire world! How does the top school in the world get their information on the Mormons? They read the "anti-mormon" literature! Again, I did not watch all of the other religions' commentary, so maybe that is how they get all of their information is through "anti-buddhist" literature and "anti-catholic" literature etc. However, I find this a common theme throughout the world. When you want to find out about something, you go find a good book written by the founder. Unless you want to find out about the Mormons. Then, you pick up a book written by a hot-headed, unfaithful, antagonist, apostate! Well, I would like to share with you what the anti-mormons will not share. Buckle-up because this is worse than any anti-mormon will ever give you.
I would like to share the most crazy, outlandish, ridiculous thing, that the mormons believe. They believe that a 14-year-old boy, was so confused about religion that he decided to take a passage of scripture from the Bible to heart. (Read James 1:5) He went into a grove, (that is woodsy area) behind his home, and actually prayed out loud. This was the first time that he had done this. Now, listen to what happened, Joseph Smith, a boy of 14 years old, claims that he then saw God! GOD! Not a salamander, not a shadow, not some figure in his toast or cereal. He claims to have seen God! Then just to make this story even more unbelievable he says that God the Father was with his Son, Jesus Christ! And, why not take this one step further? He said that he actually talked with God the Father and Jesus Christ!
Now, after saying that you have talked with God, what else is there? Really, you tell me one other belief that the Mormons have that even come close to a belief like this one.
Before you start reading even more anti-mormon literature to find out if this really happened, let me give you the source, that's right, you can click on this link and you can find out for yourself that Joseph Smith actually claims to have seen God! Mormons don't deny this.
What is more than this story? I, Kevin Pyles, believe this story to be true. That's right, I believe with all my heart, soul, and daily activities, that this story is true. Joseph Smith actually saw God, the Father and Jesus Christ. How do I know that an awesome story such as this one is true? A story that puts many fairy-tales to sleep? I know because I have prayed to the same God to know if he really did come down and visit a boy of 14. I have felt a calm and a peace that assures me that this story truly did occur. I was not there on that special occasion when a boy was able to converse with diety in person. I was also not a part of World War II or the Great Depression. But there are witnesses who were there and tell us about these historical events. I have not been to the moon. But there are some who have. They give us witnesses of what they have seen. There are some who don't believe these wars have happened, or that a visit to the moon is a conspiracy. However, just as these events have occured, so too, Joseph Smith saw God the Father, and Jesus Christ.
After this fact, arguing over Polygamy, the Book of Mormon, blacks and the Priesthood etc. are all trivial. Joseph Smith was called to be a Prophet. A spokesman for God. He was called to tell us what God had been silent on for over 1500 years. The heavens have been opened again. We are all privy to this special unveiling. It is up to us to take advantage of it.

1 comment:

Aaron said...

awesome....great post.